You see we have had such lovely crunchy frosts the last few days and I decided last night, in all my wisdom, that this morning I would get out the macro and slither across the freezing ground and shoot through the frosted garden into the glow of a rising sun.
Oh what heavenly shots of glistening frost I shall post, I thought.
Um, no frost this morning was there. Hmm. Change of Plan.
So instead I have posted a few of yesterdays research shots, as I try to track down a more relevant and more period shade of the Old Red Barn. It is an interesting study. So far it appears to me that the romantic notion of the Red Barn is not really historically correct. Density, materials, location – there are many mitigating factors. And at what period in the aging (though I would rather say progression) of this colour should we point and say -that one. That red is correct. But I am sure so far that The Red Barn should really be a much warmer colour. Though I do not know its name. Describing a colour is a little like describing the sound of a banana. We all use different visual references. 
But definitely Not the heavy, blemishfree, built to last, break your eyes Red of the modern claddings. The Old Red barn was much more organic and restful I think. More of a wash that soaked the wood, rather than covering it. It had umber in it and iron and a sunburnt orange, I don’t know. More research needed.
Good morning.
c
The Kitchen's Garden 
75 responses to “Foolishly depending on a Frost and seeking the Red of a Barn.”
Can’t you just find a chip of wood from the barn, up in the loft or eaves, with some of the old paint and then take it to a paint specialist for a digital match?
Yes I could. We would need the old names of paints and also most of the paints may have been home mixed, like the white washes that were made from lime. But red. I am sure I could just look it up but at this point I am just documenting as many old colours as I can. Looking at the fades too. c
I just left you a lengthy reply with a few links in it, so it’s gone into your waiting moderation folder. Just so you know! 😀
Try screwing up your eyes, half-shut, and painting what you see, using all the colours you mention.Re-reading your ‘about’ it occurred to me to wonder if you had ever seen BBC TV’s series The Good Life. It could apply to you, except that the Goods did it in suburban London!
See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/goodlife/
Oh I have seen The Good Life, I was addicted to it on the tele when i was young and as I slosh through the mud in my quilted winter weight dungarees and gumboots with my hair every which way, I often have flash backs to that series. I have no posh neighbours to scandalise though!! c
You may have missed the shots you sought, but these are very satisfying. I think you are on the right track with your color too. Interestingly, up in Kentucky, when I drove through, all the barns were painted a deep charcoal color. ~ Lynda
Hmm, now that is interesting, here the barns are about 80% WHITE. I wonder whether in kentucky that is the original colour. Hmm. Maybe my research can broaden out of the country and see what’s what in other states as well.. I am sure there were local shades of red. maybe i will drive a bit (lot) further with my camera! c
Oh, I love the research – can’t wait to hear more! Sorry that your photo plans didn’t pan out though – darn weather not planning along. Brilliant shots as always C.
🙂 Mandy
Thank you Mandy. I do enjoy this kind of stuff, finding the hidden answer. c
I love the shots of your barn – things are not as simple as they may appear – even finding the true color of a barn! Glad you are perservering. As in my genealogy research, the first thought may not be the correct one!
Very true Phyllis, This barn is actually on the corner and the fellow who owns it is looking to fix it UP! So fingers crossed we can talk him into redoing the paintwork to its original too!
How exciting, literally looking through layers of the past to find what you need! Love these shots, even if they weren´t the ones you had planned…
It is a very enjoyable piece of research tanya. and I am sure that the variables make quite a list so I am going to focus on this county..
The color might be problematic but the textures aren’t. I could almost feel the rough side of the barn, although it would probably bring a quick splinter to my index finger.
Ronnie
It is amazing the textures of the wood Ronnie. And different sides of the barn have different weathering patterns. All fascinating.. c
The red barn…how iconic! Great texture shots. t
It is a mission to find for me to find pre depression paint! So all my old people will become advisors no doubt! c
It will be colder later this week, maybe some of the four letter word. Old man winter is trying to wake up around here, but I am content to let him snooze. Good morning Celi.
Morning Harold Don’t go making any loud noises, we want him to keep snoozing.. c
My grandfather had the perfect red barn. I remember it so well. I hope you find your dream red, cecilia dear.
It is strange isn’t how we remember colours yet cannot describe them well! c
Great pictures regardless 😉
Thanks Mad.. c
In my mind’s eye, the color of rusty red that has seeped onto the gray wood under the shot of the hinge is “barn red”. It has a rich, aged sort of vintage feeling to it. It reminds me of barns in rural Vermont. Love your research shots.
Celi,
I’ve been following your blog for months without officially joining. I’ve always wondered if you really know who all of your readers are. I read your writings every day and I look forward to that time. It’s typically in the middle of my work day and reading your blog serves as my mid-day pick-me-up. In short…. I love your blog!
Hi there PeeDee, thank you so much for popping in. I do wonder who you all are and I love that you are all there reading, I am thrilled that I can be a wee pick-me-up in your long day. Thank you so much for your comment .. it is a pick-me-up for me just to hear that!! c
Some of these old barns are incredible, aren’t they? Love driving through the countryside and seeing them. I once read that if you’re driving out in farm country and come across lilacs growing, seemingly out-of-place, there’s probably the ruins/foundation of an old farmhouse in the immediate vicinity. Depending upon the farm, lilacs were used to perfume the air for the farmhouse.
It is true, and if you were to start digging you would find the house buried under there, they just burn them and bury them, another indication round here of a house grave is the peonies they keep coming back and actually came over on the wagons so have been in this area for a very long time.. I love the history here.. c
I’m so jealous of your macro lens. Your shots are absolutely lovely in capturing the detail I so appreciate. You know how much I value old barns.
If you read (recall) my “On-the-road prairie photos” post of December 29, I included a link to Farmers’ Almanac Trivia regarding the red color of barns: http://www.farmersalmanac.com/blog/2008/09/16/farmers-almanac-trivia-why-are-many-barns-red/
I found that quite interesting. Good luck in your search for the right color and kudos to you for helping preserve a piece of our rural heritage.
Most Minnesota barns are red, although the one on the farm where I grew up in southwestern Minnesota is white.
These shots were not taken with the macro tho, what i really really want now is a good wide angle, this country side is made for it! Now I must pop over and read your link.. thank you Audrey! c